Holder for sharps instrument

ABSTRACT

A holder for releasedly retaining a sharps instrument repeatedly used during a medical procedure. The holder has a support component to support the sharps instrument and a guard component to isolate a sharp tip of the instrument and thereby prevent an inadvertent invasive contact to a care provider. Preferably, at least a portion of the support component is generally complimentary in shape to the sharps instrument, and non-limitedly can be chosen from a generally U-shape cradle or a diametrically diminishing hollow tube wherein the instrument is accommodated during retention. Guard component choices non-limitedly include a replaceable non-coreable wall penetrable by a sharp tip and situated to accept a sharp tip when the sharps instrument is stored, or a holder-housing portion disposed distally from and proximate the instrument support component and within which the sharp tip resides when the instrument is stored. It is preferred that the holder can simultaneously accommodate a plurality of sharps instruments such that a care provider can safely and efficiently retrieve and replace instruments as necessary in the administration of treatment utilizing the instruments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to medical safety devices, and in particular to a holder for releasedly retaining sharps instruments in a safe manner during medical procedures where such instruments must be readily available for periodic use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] During certain medical procedures it is necessary to employ a variety of sharps instruments, such as non-limitedly exemplified by needle-bearing syringes, scalpels, trocars, and other instruments characterized by having a sharp and thus potentially dangerous tip, a plurality of times to thereby deliver chosen medical treatments to a patient. Generally, each such instrument is used a plurality of times during a particular procedure, but must be safely stored between usage to prevent an inadvertent invasive contact with a care provider. In the case of needle-bearing syringes for example, each syringe has a particular respective agent whose level must be maintained within a patient and thus requires on-going individual injections over a period of time from each syringe. Between these injections when the syringes are not in use, however, it is extremely important that the needle tips thereof be safely isolated so that an inadvertent needle stick to a care provider does not occur. Concurrently, of course, and as with all other sharps instruments being used, these syringes must be readily and conveniently available for immediate retrieval when needed.

[0003] Current-art approaches for providing multi-instrument availability primarily merely suggest arranging such instruments on a flat tray. As is obvious in observing such placement, the sharps instruments such as syringes can easily become dis-arranged and, equally important, can become directionally oriented in a manner that can result in invasive contact to a care provider reaching for a sharps instrument during treatment of the patient. Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/961,348, filed Oct. 30, 1997, and incorporated herewith in its entirety, teaches an apparatus for retaining needle-bearing syringes by maintaining needle caps in a structure such that respective needles can reengage respective caps for temporary storage. While this arrangement certainly is desirable and effectively addresses needle isolation, it does require somewhat precise aiming and placement of the needles as opposed to a more rapid general placement. Likewise, such cap structures may not be available for other sharps instruments.

[0004] In view of the above considerations, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a sharps instrument holder that both supports the sharps instrument body and isolates the sharp tip for efficient safety attainment and maintenance.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sharps instrument holder wherein support to the instrument is provided by a structure that is generally complimentarily shaped to at least a portion of the instrument for uncomplicated and fast placement.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sharps instrument holder wherein a guard component thereof effectively isolates the sharp tip, yet wherein the sharps instrument is readily released when engaged by the care provider.

[0007] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a holder for releasedly retaining a sharps instrument repeatedly used during a medical procedure. The holder comprises a support component to support the sharps instrument and a guard component to isolate a sharp tip of the instrument and thereby prevent an inadvertent invasive contact to a care provider. Preferably, at least a portion of the support component is generally complimentary in shape to the sharps instrument, and non-limitedly can be chosen from a generally U-shape cradle or a cross-sectionally diminishing hollow tube wherein the instrument is accommodated during retention. Guard component choices non-limitedly include a replaceable non-coreable wall penetrable by a sharp tip and situated to accept a sharp tip when the sharps instrument is stored, or a holder-housing portion disposed distally from and proximate the instrument support component and within which the sharp tip resides when the instrument is stored. It is preferred that the holder can simultaneously accommodate a plurality of sharps instruments such that a care provider can safely and efficiently retrieve and replace instruments as necessary in the administration of treatment utilizing the instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a needle-bearing syringe holder with two syringes therewith;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the holder of FIG. 1 additionally showing in phantom a larger syringe;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a needle-bearing syringe holder; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the holder of FIG. 3 additionally showing in phantom a syringe in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a holder 10 for releasedly retaining sharps instruments is illustrated with two needle-bearing syringes 12, 14 in place. While the preferred embodiments exemplify needle-bearing syringes, it is to be understood that these syringes exemplify all other sharps instruments (e.g. scalpels, trocars, etc.) as would be recognizedly associated as sharps instruments by medically skilled care givers. The holder 10 includes a base 16 from which extends upwardly a wall 18 having at its top location 20 U-shape cut-outs 22 generally complimentary in shape to the circumferential surface of the syringe 12, 14. The holder 10 has a guard component 24 fabricated as a non-coreable wall 26 penetrable by needle tips 28 or any other sharp tips found in a sharps instrument. Although not by way of limitation, a preferred non-coreable material candidate is poly-isoprine. This wall 26 is situated to accept needle tips 28 when syringes 12, 14 are in place for retention. The wall 26 is retained within grooves 30, 32, and can be removed by lateral sliding from the grooves 30, 32 for disposal and subsequent fresh replacement after a medical procedure utilizing the holder 10 is completed.

[0015]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a holder 40 for releasedly retaining sharps instruments. In particular, the holder 40 has a plurality (here four) of hollow cylinders 42 each diminishing in step-wise regression to thereby provide a plurality of discrete cross sections 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, 44 d. Each cylinder 42 has a proximal opening 46 and a distal opening 48, with each cross section 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, 44 d generally complimentary in size to accommodate an instrument dimension such as a syringe diameter of an appropriate volume capacity. In the embodiment shown, the diameter of section 44 a is 0.875 inch; that of section 44 b is 0.75 inch; that of section 44 c is 0.625 inch; and that of section 44 d is 0.5 inch. This exemplified sizing permits accommodation of syringes having capacities from 5 cc to 20 cc. The guard component So of the holder 40 is a holder-housing portion 52 disposed distally from and proximate the distal opening 48 of the hollow cylinders 42. As illustrated, the holder housing 54 includes an angularly formed upper sheet 56, a flat base 58, and a front wall 60. FIG. 4 shows in phantom a syringe 14 in place in the cylinder 42, with its needle tip 28 isolated in the housing portion 52. As is apparent, when a sharps instrument such as a scalpel (not shown) is inserted within a cylinder 42, the sharp-tipped blade thereof will isolatedly reside within the housing portion 52.

[0016] When the holder is employed for needle-bearing syringes, a care provider first places filled syringes in the holder. As respective syringes are needed to administer portions of their respective contents to a patient, the care provider grasps the appropriate syringes for patient application. Thereafter, the chosen syringes are returned to the holder for safe and effective retention until once again required for patient treatment, at which time the syringes are again retrieved for use. As would be recognized by the skilled artisan, a substantially identical process is employed for other sharps instruments being used. After the medical procedure is completed, the holder is sterilized by conventional techniques for subsequent use with another patient. In the first embodiment presented above, the non-coreable wall generally is discarded and replaced with a fresh wall as described to thereby eliminate any possibility of untoward survival and transfer of an organism from patient to patient. The sharps instrument holder of the present invention. thus provides effective, safe and practical handling procedures for the benefit of both health care providers and patients being served.

[0017] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for releasedly retaining a sharps instrument having a sharp tip, the holder comprising a support component to support the instrument and a guard component to isolate the tip.
 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support component comprises a support structure with at least a portion thereof generally complimentary in shape to the instrument.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support structure is an upwardly extending wall having at a top location thereof a cut-out generally complimentary in shape to a portion of a circumferential surface of the instrument.
 4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cut-out is generally U-shaped.
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support structure comprises a hollow cylinder or semi-cylinder having a proximal opening and a distal opening and a distally diminishing cross section leading from the proximal opening and wherein a portion of said cross section is generally complimentary in size to an instrument cross section.
 6. A holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the cross section of the hollow cylinder or semi-cylinder diminishes in step-wise regression to thereby provide a plurality of discrete cross sections.
 7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 wherein each discrete cross section is generally complimentary in size to an appropriately sized instrument cross section.
 8. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by the sharp tip, said wall situated to accept a tip when a sharps instrument is releasedly retained.
 9. A holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein the wall is removable and replaceable with another substantially identical wall.
 10. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by the sharp tip, said wall disposed to accept a tip when a sharps instrument is releasedly retained.
 11. A holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the guard component is a holder-housing portion disposed distally from and proximate the distal opening of the hollow cylinder or semi-cylinder.
 12. A holder for releasedly retaining a plurality of sharps instruments each having a sharp tip, the holder comprising a support component to support the instruments and a guard component to isolate the tips.
 13. A holder as claimed in claim 12 wherein the support component comprises a support structure with a plurality of portions each having at least a section thereof generally complimentary in shape to a portion of the instrument.
 14. A holder as claimed in claim 13 wherein the support structure is an upwardly extending wall having at a top location thereof a plurality of cut-outs each respectively generally complimentary in shape to a portion of the circumferential surfaces of the instruments.
 15. A holder as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cutouts are generally U-shaped.
 16. A holder as claimed in claim 13 wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders each having a proximal opening and a distal opening and a distally diminishing cross section leading from the proximal opening and wherein a portion of said cross section is generally complimentary in size to an instrument cross section.
 17. A holder as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cross section of the respective hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders diminishes in step-wise regression to thereby provide a plurality of discrete cross sections.
 18. A holder as claimed in claim 17 wherein each discrete cross section is generally complimentary in size to an appropriately sized instrument cross section.
 19. A holder as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by the sharp tips, said wall disposed to accept a plurality of tips when a plurality of respective sharps instruments are releasedly retained.
 20. A holder as claimed in claim 19 wherein the wall is removable and replaceable with another substantially identical wall.
 21. A holder as claimed in claim 14 wherein the guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by the sharp tips, said wall disposed to accept a plurality of tips when a plurality of respective sharps instruments are releasedly retained.
 22. A holder as claimed in claim 16 wherein the guard component is a holder-housing portion disposed distally from and proximate the distal openings of the hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders.
 23. A holder for releasedly retaining a plurality of syringes each bearing a respective needle, the holder comprising a support component to support the syringes and a needle guard component to isolate the needles.
 24. A holder as claimed in claim 23 wherein the support component comprises a support structure with a plurality of portions thereof generally complimentary in shape to the syringes.
 25. A holder as claimed in claim 24 wherein the support structure is an upwardly extending wall having at a top location thereof a plurality of cut-outs each respectively generally complimentary in shape to circumferential surfaces of the syringes.
 26. A holder as claimed in claim 25 wherein the cutouts are generally U-shaped.
 27. A holder as claimed in claim 24 wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders each having a proximal opening and a distal end and a distally diminishing diameter leading from the proximal opening and wherein a portion of said diameter is generally complimentary in size to a syringe diameter.
 28. A holder as claimed in claim 27 wherein the diameter of the respective hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders diminishes in step-wise regression to thereby provide a plurality of discrete diameters.
 29. A holder as claimed in claim 28 wherein each discrete diameter is generally complimentary in size to an appropriately sized syringe diameter.
 30. A holder as claimed in claim 23 wherein the needle guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by a needle tip, said wall disposed to accept a plurality of needle tips when a plurality of respective syringes each bearing a needle are releasedly retained.
 31. A holder as claimed in claim 30 wherein the wall is removable and replaceable with another substantially identical wall.
 32. A holder as claimed in claim 25 wherein the needle guard component comprises a non-coreable wall penetrable by a needle tip, said wall disposed to accept a plurality of needle tips when a plurality of respective syringes each bearing a needle are releasedly retained.
 33. A holder as claimed in claim 27 wherein the needle guard component is a holder-housing portion disposed distally from and proximate the distal openings of the hollow cylinders or semi-cylinders. 